Ladder-foot.



P. DELSIE.

I LADDER FOOT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1913.

1,095,823, I Patented May 5 1 914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK DELSIE, OF CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND.

LADDER-FOOT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DnLsIn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 134 Hereford street, Christchurch, in the Dominion of New Zealand, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ladder- Feet, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ladders, its object being to provide means whereby the danger due to the slipping away of the foot of the ladder may be prevented.

With this object in view the construction comprises a pair of blocks or shoes adapted to be secured, either permanently or detachable, one to each of the lower extremities of the side members of the ladder so as to lie between such lower extremities and the ground or surface upon which the ladder is supported, the arrangement being such that the weight and pressure of the ladder will cause the shoes to maintain a firm grip upon the ground or supporting surface irrespective of the angle at which the ladder may be inclined.

In order that the nature of the invention and its construction may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1. isa perspective view showing the lower portion of one of the side mem bers of a ladder with the invention attached, Fig. 2. is an end elevation of the same, Fig. 3. is a side elevation illustrating an alternative construction for that shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4. is a cross sectional view of the shoe showing the means devised for enabling the shoe to obtain the necessary grip upon hard surfaces or, in cases where it is desired to avoid marking the floor or other surface upon which it rests.

1 is a shoe ofmetal or other suitable material of hollow or channel cross-section and having its upper surface 2 formed with a concave curve or sweep so as to allow of the rounded foot of the side member 3 of the ladder resting at some point thereon at whatever angle such ladder may be inclined. To enable it toobtain a firm grip upon the ground or surface upon which it rests the shoe 1 is provided upon its underside, near either end, with serrations or teeth 4, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In cases where the shoe is required for use upon a hard surface in which the teeth 4 could not obtain the necessary grip or in cases where the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 27, 1913.

Serial No. 751,022.

prevented from becoming loose. The lower surfaces of the blocks 5 project for a slight distance below the shoe 5 and thus serve to support the latter upon the ground.

To secure the side member 3 and the shoe 1 together a pair of links 7 are pivoted near their lower ends, one on either side of the shoe 1 as at 8 while the upper extremities of such links are similarly pivoted to the side member 3. The said links may be pivoted about the middle of the shoe as in Fig. 1, which allows of the ladder being inclined in either direction relative to the shoe, or such links may be pivoted at or near. one end of the shoe, which allows of the ladder being inclined in one direction only.

The method of pivoting the links to the side member 3 of the ladder may be either tervening portion of the member 3. several of the holes 10 being provided in each of the links in order to allow of the pin 9 being passed through any pair of such holes as required in order to accommodate the position of the shoe to suit the angle at which the ladder may be inclined. The method of pivoting shown in Fig. 3 is suitable for use in cases where the ladder is intended to be inclined in one direction only in respect to the shoe and consists of a pin or bar ll connecting the two links near their upper ends, such bar 11 being adapted to be placed within any one of a series of notches 12 formed in the outer edge of the side member 3 of the ladder.

It will be seen from the construction as above described that, no matter what may be the angle at whichthe ladder is inclined, the lower extremities of the side members 3 will rest firmly upon the concave upper surfaces of the shoes and the latter will maintain a firm grip upon the ground or surface upon which they rest thus effectually Patented Ma -5 1914. I

Accordtile preventing the ladder from slipping away at the foot.

I claim:

1. In combination, a ladder, shoes adapted to lie between the ends of the side members of the ladder and the surface on which it is supported, and links connected to the side members of said ladder and to said shoes.

2. In combination, a ladder, shoes adapted to lie between the ends of the side members of the ladder and the surface on which it is supported, the ends of said end members being rounded and the upper surfaces of said shoes being concaved and links connected to the side members oii said ladder and to said shoes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

' FRANK DELSIE.

Witnesses:

PERCY RICHMOND CLIMm, CYRIL CARLYM CoATEs. 

